Plans afoot to make NEPA a ‘centre of excellence’

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju hands over a trophy to DSP (Probationer) Rukulu Tunyi of Nagaland Police for being the adjudged as the best ( all round) DSP (Probationer) at the 40th passing out parade at NEPA on Saturday. (ST)

SHILLONG: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has informed that the Centre plans to develop the North East Police Academy (NEPA) into a centre of excellence.

Informing this at the passing out parade of the 40th Basic Course at NEPA, Umiam on Saturday, Rijiju said that acting on the advice of the Union Home Secretary, a plan has been worked out to develop NEPA into a ‘centre of excellence’ and several recommendations in this regard have already been implemented.

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs also assured that an amount of Rs 2 crore will be allotted to NEPA for welfare and foreign training component in the next fiscal year (2015-2016).

“It is my pleasure to announce the welfare grant of Rs one crore to NEPA. Further, I am happy to inform that a provision of Rs 1 crore will be made for foreign training component,” Rijiju said.

He also lauded NEPA for emerging into a premier training institute for police officers of the North East.

He said that with the changing security scenario in the country, especially the region, the responsibilities assigned to the officers have increased manifold.

“The jobs assigned to police officers of the Northeastern states go beyond their normal law and order duties since they have to deal with insurgency and cross border crimes,” Rijiju observed.

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs also said that policing has become a very complex activity in the present liberal democratic society as it requires great sensitivity, strength of character, intellect, courage and above all a real desire to serve the communities.

Stating that the citizens have expectations from the police, Rijiju pointed out that the policemen are expected to manage India’s unique diversity, allow the citizens to celebrate their differences while bringing law and order and social cohesion to manage dissonance.

Meanwhile, NEPA Director Dolcy Barman informed that the present batch of the Academy has 169 trainees including five women Deputy Superintendent of Police (probationaries) and 30 cadet Sub-Inspectors belonging to the different State police regions.

She also informed that NEPA has acquired a new training block which is to be equipped with a full-fledged laboratory, two state of the art computer labs, conference hall etc.

“The training in the institution has improved due to the addition of a swimming pool, a full-fledged firing range and indoor sports facilities.

A 500-seater auditorium will also be functional by the financial ending. Work for a 10-bedded hospital with indoor patient facility has also been started,” Barman said.